Kris O'Leary | Stevenage games a good end to a tough week

Swansea City first-team coach Kris O’Leary felt the pair of friendlies against Stevenage had been a good note on which to end a week of hard work on their pre-season training camp in Spain.

The Swans played their League Two opponents across two hour-long contests in sweltering conditions at the Pinatar Arena.

With temperatures reaching and surpassing 35 degrees centigrade, it made for a gruelling physical test for both sides.

The first game ended in a 2-2 draw, with an own goal and a Bobby Wales strike putting the Swans 2-0 to the good, before a Dan Sweeney header and a finish from a trialist saw Stevenage respond late on.

The Swans then came out on top in the second encounter, with Zan Vipotnik’s excellent finish from a through ball proving the solitary goal.

And former Swans midfielder O’Leary believes this was another positive step along the journey towards the Championship opener at Middlesbrough.

“It’s the end of a real tough week, with temperatures that were a bit higher that what we have experienced before, but it was all geared up for this game and the chance to give these players 60 minutes and we felt it worked out really well,” he said.

“The pre-season has been well planned out, a lot of hard work has gone in even prior to the first day of the players coming back. We have new players who have come in early, and they have got to spend this time with their teammates and as a group.

“Throughout my career I have always said these weeks where you go away together are among the most important of a season, because you gel together and we have had a good week and a good game today.

“You can see the players growing in understanding and getting to know each other in their combinations, and it was good for the two strikers to get goals.”

O’Leary also paid thanks to the group of around 200 Swansea fans who made the journey out to the Murcia region to cheer on Alan Sheehan’s side.

“The supporters were brilliant, they always travel in good numbers,” he added. 

“I could hear their song at one point ‘we are melting over here’, or words to that effect, and I sympathise with them because it is very hot, but I am sure they have had a really good time.”